Sports: MSU Football Makes Dramatic Turnaround
With a bit of “Smoker and mirrors,” John L. Smith musters an 8-4 season, a bowl invite, and “Coach of the Year” honors.
One year ago, a highly touted MSU team was left gurgling in the mud of a ruinous 4-8 season punctuated by a 61-7 squashing by Penn State.
This season the same team, picked by experts to finish 9th or 10th in the Big Ten, pulled together as a team, learned how to win, and demolished the Nittany Lions 41-10 as an exclamation point to an 8-4 season that earned new coach John L. Smith “Big Ten Coach of the Year” honors.
Like Wyatt Earp barging into Dodge, Smith arrived in East Lansing wearing fancy boots and acting like the new “sheriff.” He began by ridding the team of any “me” egoism and by imposing the “we” concept. He introduced a “spread” offense along with a gambling, attack defensive philosophy. He cracked down on accountability and discipline, though with a smile and a twinkle and occasional love slaps in the face. The players who stayed clearly responded, producing in Spring semester the highest team GPA since records were kept.
Most importantly, Smith established a tough framework within which senior quarterback Jeff Smoker—kicked off the team last season for substance abuse—was able to come back and flourish.
And comeback he did, as did his inspired teammates.
In the rousing home finale, Smoker, a native of Pennsylvania, passed for 357 yards and a record-tying four touchdowns against legendary Joe Paterno and became the first Spartan to pass for 3,000 yards. The fifth-ranking all-time passer in the Big Ten, Smoker set every important MSU passing record. He story came to symbolize many MSU comebacks and personal rallies—including running back Tyrell Dortch’s return from major injury.
“For this team to win eight football games is unbelievable to me,” says Smith, who credits his staff and players for the “Coach of the Year” honors. “These guys have patched themselves together. We had one little bump . . . (but) other than that, I think they overachieved in every game.”
Smoker, who left the finale to a resounding Spartan Stadium ovation, called the season “a complete 180 from last year.”
From the get go, fans noticed that MSU’s a new, vigorous “go get them” philosophy, where players tried to make plays instead of mark time. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin’s imaginative aerial attacks made the team exciting to watch. Special teams, keyed by returner DeAndra Cobb, punter Brandon Fields and kicker Dave Rayner, erupted with productivity.
In the opener against Western Michigan, MSU won 26-21 as Smoker went 21 of 34 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Against Rutgers, MSU won 44-28 as Smoker threw for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. Smoker’s true value became more appreciated when he was injured midway during the LA Tech game. With a near two-touchdown lead with 1:10 left, MSU allowed two touchdowns in a miracle finish and lost 20-19.
"I just checked about 15 times to see if we actually won,” said LA Tech coach Jack Bicknell III afterwards. “It's unbelievable."
Despite a painful toe injury, Smoker started against Notre Dame and led MSU to a 22-16 win—MSU’s fourth straight in South Bend, and sixth win in the last seven games. Sophomore Jaren Hayes had a spectacular 71-yard run for a touchdown, while senior defensive end Greg Taplin, a prodigal talent who finally emerged as a defensive force, scored on a 40-yard interception.
MSU’s defensive front, so porous last season, stiffened up to rank among the nation’s leaders against the rush. Credit defensive coordinator Chris Smeland and defensive line coach Steve Stripling. Back-up quarterback Drew Stanton, whose muffed kickoff return allowed LA Tech to recover an onside kick, made no such mistake in the Notre Dame game.
Next came Iowa, the league’s defending co-champions. In a tough, physical contest, MSU prevailed 20-10 as Smoker went 28-44 for 218 yards while setting MSU records for career completions, attempts and touchdown passes. The solid win did not go unnoticed, as MSU cracked the national rankings at No. 25.
MSU beat Indiana 31-03, regaining the Brass Spittoon, and rose to No. 21 as it sallied forth to Champaign, IL. In a fairly even contest, safety Eric Smith’s early interception sparked a Spartan surge. MSU went on to rout the Illini 49-14 as Smoker passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Tyrell Dortch, whose football career was on the line after a horrendous leg break at Wisconsin the previous year, scored the first two TDs of his career. Safety Jason Harmon scored on a 52-yard interception. MSU shot up to No. 15.
At the Metrodome, MSU scored two quick touchdowns before the No. 25 Gophers began unleashing their power attack, cutting MSU’s lead to seven points. But DeAndra Cobb’s 100-yard kickoff return gave control back to MSU, 34-17, just before halftime. Keyed by Dave Rayner field goals of 46, 50 and 52 yards and a 60-yd run by Jason Teague, MSU secured a 44-38 win.
This was the pinnacle of the season. With a 7-1 record, 4-0 in the Big Ten (for only the third time in history), MSU stood alone atop the Big Ten and broke into the Top Ten with a national ranking of No. 9—astounding for a team picked to finish ninth in its conference. MSU’s defense, a sad sack contingent the previous season, was leading the nation with 34 sacks.
What was going on? Was MSU suddenly that good? Or was John L. Smith and crew doing it with Smoker and mirrors?
When No. 11 arch rival Michigan came to Spartan Stadium, it did not take long for fans to realize that the Spartans had over-achieved. MSU’s close loss of 27-20 hid the fact that Michigan dominated on the ground and in the air, with running back Chris Perry setting a Wolverine record with 51 carries for 219 yards. Clifford Dukes returned a fumble 65 yards for a TD with 6:03 left and allowed MSU one last Hail Mary at game’s end, but it was intercepted in the end zone—Smoker’s first in more than 200 attempts.
MSU then lost to the 7th-ranked defending national champions Ohio State 33-23 in Columbus, sliding down to No. 14. Smoker was 35 for 55 and 351 yards to set two more MSU records, and Cobb had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown—his third of the season. But MSU could only muster 5 yards rushing and was hurt by its trademark bugaboo, committing 12 penalties for 89 yards.
Barely clinging to No. 21 in the rankings, MSU fell off completely after a 56-21 rout by Wisconsin at Madison. Badger Lee Evans set a Big Ten record with five touchdown receptions and a school record for 258 receiving yards on 10 passes. It was, a Smith put it, the only bump in an otherwise Hollywood script.
Many Spartans played key roles, including senior offensive linemen Paul Harker, Steve Stewart and Joe Tate, senior linebacker Mike Labinjo, and senior defensive end Greg Taplin. Although MSU lost 17-3 to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, TX, its future is bright with such emerging stars as Aaron Alexander, Kyle Brown, Agim Shabaj, Eric Knott and Jason Randall on offense; Clifford Dukes, Jason Harmon, Seth Mitchell and Eric Smith on defense; and DeAndra Cobb, Brandon Fields and Dave Rayner on special teams.